Bolong vs Jaspers Brush, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bolong and Jaspers Brush are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Jaspers Brush runs $11,463 a year cheaper than Bolong, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $131,410.
Over 10 years, Jaspers Brush costs about $131,400 less to run than Bolong. That's about $253 a week.
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Jaspers Brush
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bolong | Jaspers Brush | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $6,737 | +$11,463 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $6,737 | +$11,463 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $2,000 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,047 | $11,584 | +$11,463 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,047 | $11,584 | +$11,463 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bolong | Jaspers Brush | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Bolong vs Jaspers Brush (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jaspers Brush costs $11,463 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $131,410 in favour of Jaspers Brush.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,463 per year. Bolong is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $11,463 per year, $23,047 from Bolong versus $11,584 from Jaspers Brush.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Jaspers Brush by $11,463 a year, $6,737 against $18,200.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,000 a year.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance.
The catchment state school scores 7.7 in Jaspers Brush against 6.2 in Bolong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bolong cumulative | Jaspers Brush cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,047 | $11,584 | $11,463 |
| Year 3 | $71,236 | $35,805 | $35,431 |
| Year 5 | $122,360 | $61,501 | $60,859 |
| Year 10 | $264,208 | $132,798 | $131,410 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bolong or Jaspers Brush cheaper to live in?
Jaspers Brush is cheaper to run by car at $11,584 per year versus $23,047 for Bolong, a difference of $11,463 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bolong and Jaspers Brush?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Bolong (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Jaspers Brush (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bolong and $1,300 in Jaspers Brush. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Bolong and Jaspers Brush?
Bolong carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Jaspers Brush is $6,737 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bolong and Jaspers Brush?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bolong costs a cumulative $264,208 and Jaspers Brush costs $132,798 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $131,410 in favour of Jaspers Brush. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bolong and Jaspers Brush suits you better?
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Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.